August 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

LWVOC VP Michele Levy's letter about the Orange County Sheriff's Citizens Advisory Committee was the lead letter on today's Orlando Sentinel's editorial page.

Overseeing Police

Regarding the letter to the editor Saturday by Edward R. Hagler about the new Citizens Advisory Committee: His comments only fuel "the flames of racism," which he accused the new committee of fanning.

It replaced the old Citizen's Review Board, which was created in 1995 — with the support of the League of Women Voters — because of a culture of racism and police misconduct. In 2009, the Fifth District Court of Appeals abolished the board, stating it was unconstitutional and violated the civil rights of law-enforcement personnel.Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings could have let that stand, but he thought the citizens of Orange County deserved better. The nine-person board was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The sheriff selected the chairman (who has one vote), while the mayor, the commissioners and the Police Benevolent Association picked the rest. Remember that this board has no teeth. All it can do is study policy and procedures and review cases and events.

The first case it will review is whether the policy of firing into a moving vehicle is appropriate. In this case, in which more than 100 rounds were fired into a car, the detective has already been exonerated by a panel of his peers. It's hard to believe Hagler is upset about this committee. Demings is an elected official, and his first responsibility is to Orange County citizens.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Obviously the League's criticism of the redistricting hearings has hit a chord. Now Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz says the panel may hold video conferences throughout Florida to get voter reaction to the legislative maps. The Legislature had said it was only going to allow three days of public-input once legislative maps were drawn and those hearings would be in Tallahassee. The LWVFL has appeared at the redistricting hearings, urging that the legislative maps be shown NOW so there could be public input and the timetable for elections would not be disrupted.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Scott Harris, the veteran journalist who worked his entire career in this region and helped launch Central Florida News 13, died today. He had been battling kidney cancer for several months, and he was 64.

"Scott died peacefully this morning at Hospice of the Comforter," News 13 General Manager Robin Smythe said.

"He changed the way everyone did their jobs," said Jennifer Cook, who worked with him 11 years at News 13. "He was the mentor to everyone at the station. Everyone called him the Senator. He was the older statesman of the group."

Orlando attorney John Morgan spent time Saturday with Harris in hospice. "He was the journalists' journalist. Old school all the way," Morgan said. "His greatest qualities were his kindness and humility. That's why's so many of us are so sad."

Through the years, Harris worked as assistant news director and anchor at WESH-Channel 2 and as a reporter at WCPX-Channel 6 (now WKMG). He also worked as news anchor, reporter and producer for radio station 580 AM (WDBO)

But he was employed at News 13 twice as long as most places he worked. In March, his colleagues feted him at a Church Street Station restaurant on what had been proclaimed Scott Harris Day in Orlando. He talked about his affection for working at News 13.

"I have been able to change my role every several years and do something a little different," Harris said. He said he loved covering politics and the space program.

"It was my honor to work with Scott and be his friend for many, many years," said News 13's Smythe. "What he did for News 13 we will never forget. Our business and our lives are better because he was here. Our hearts are aching today."

Harris was crucial to the launch of News 13 in 1997, said Jane Healy, a former editor at the Orlando Sentinel. (The Sentinel and Time Warner Communications were equal partners when News 13 started; it is now owned by Bright House Networks.)

"He had a name in the market," Healy said. "It was critical to have him. It gave gravitas to 13."

Harris wasn't his real name, though. He was born Vincent McGough and took Harris as his stage name.

In March, Harris said he had a new role covering special events at News 13. But he only narrated several reports on the final shuttle launch and never appeared on camera again, Cook said.

"He was such a wonderful person," Healy said. "He never lost his zest for life or the journalism business. He had this insatiable curiosity about politics and the Space Coast. He went to the last shuttle liftoff. He loved sailing and golf."

Healy described Harris as optimistic and upbeat, even as he received chemotherapy. "He had smoked for years, and his lungs were clear," Healy said.

Healy co-anchored "For the Record" with Harris for seven years. The weekly program later became "The Agenda," which Harris anchored.

"He loved doing that show," Healy said. "He had a good relationship with politicians. His personality was more light than darkness. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He knew more about politics than any other anchor in this market."

Harris was the frequent and popular moderator at League of Women Voters of Orange County debates.

He might not have been mean, but he was demanding. "He was known to drive producers crazy," colleague Cook said. "He'd ask: 'Why are we doing this? Who wrote this? Who cares?' Ninety-nine percent of the time he was right to question scripts. He became a teacher."

Harris was a graduate of Orlando's Edgewater High School and the University of Central Florida.

His two marriages ended in divorce. His survivors include a son, Emery McGough, who cared for him at the end. "It's pretty amazing to see how many people were affected by my father," Emery said.

Other survivors are three siblings: Jane McGough of New York City, Sue McGough of Central Florida and Tom McGough of Tallahassee. "My mom and dad taught us you do things because it's good," Tom said. "You teach, you help, you don't expect credit. … and that's how Vince lived," referring to his brother's original name.

There is no word yet on a memorial service.

Many colleagues visited Harris in hospice to thank him. Cook said, "A lot of reporters in the past several days came here and said, 'He's the reason I'm in this business.' "

Reminder that on Sept. 26, the First Amendment Foundation will hold a seminar on the Sunshine Law, starting at 8.30 a.m. at the Orlando Sentinel Conference Room. League members pay $15. Register: www.floridafaf.org

The Rollins Feminist Forum features a conversation between activist and author Gloria Steinem and former congresswoman Patricia Schroeder, panel discussions highlighting twelve leading representatives from Veteran Feminists of America, and student-led presentations of oral history projects.

Writer and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem and former Congresswoman and activist Patricia Schroeder reflect upon the early days of the feminist movement and their roles in reshaping the patriarchal landscape then and now.

A collection of skits, songs, posters and parodies addressing women's issues—the herstory/history of being female in a patriarchal world.

Guerrilla Girls on Tour is a New York City-based touring theater company that creates original comedies celebrating women and their history—past, present and future. Their mission is to educate via performances, workshops, gallery exhibits, masterclasses and community collaborations.

The chants echoed across the UCF campus on Friday, Aug. 26, as students, LWVOC members, politicians, activists, supporters and the plain curious marched in celebration of the 91st anniversary of women getting the right to vote.

Leading the charge, bullhorn in hand, was a dynamo called Anna Eskamani, a UCF student, League member and FDC Women’s Caucus chair.

Taking part in the march was a woman who was not quite 2 years old when the 19th Amendment was ratified. Mye Trumbore was pushed in her wheelchair by her daughter-in-law, Chere Force, who recently joined the League.

“It means a lot to be here,” Chere said.

Earlier outside the Student Union Building, Eskamani kicked off the noon rally by recalling that it was a 24-year-old Tennessee legislator, Harry Burn, who cast the vital vote that ensured passage of the 19th Amendment. Burn changed his vote after receiving a letter from his mother urging: “Don’t forget to be a good boy” and vote for suffrage. He did and the rest is history.

Dr. Maria Santana, chair of the Women’s Studies Program at UCF and League member, described the struggles of her grandmother who had 10 children all of whom went to college. She urged students to stay in college and get a degree.

Former U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder, a League member and one time presidential candidate, said “women never celebrate what we did,” but this was a day for celebration. She talked about her early years in Washington, recalling how she was once asked how she could be both a mother and member of Congress. “I’ve got a uterus and I’ve got a brain and I can use them both,”Schroeder replied.

LWVOC President Ann Hellmuth urged students to be sure to register to vote in the county in which they intended to vote and to vote in all elections, even primaries.

The students presented League members with yellow sashes like those worn by the suffragists. Other League members attending included board members Carol Davis, Michele Levy, Sandra A. Powers, Laurie Wack, Adrienne Katz Katz and Caroline Emmons Schramm.

The festival is coordinated by LWVOC member Nina Streich. Last year, the festival premiered Gerrymandering, The Movie, a League favorite which examined redistricting. In California, Texas as well as Florida.

Other film topics have included immigration, energy, sustainable design, the health of our oceans and barriers to cross-cultural understanding.

I am sure this year’s film topics will be just as dynamic. For interested League members and friends, this forum for discussion of ideas and solutions to some of our most complex challenges is like a 5 day Hot Topics!

This will be my 5th year attending the festival. Last year, Teresa McElwee, Nancy Rudner, Laurie Wack, Ann Hellmuth, Sara Segal, Andrea Kobrin were just some of our members who also participated.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Friday he believes the Legislature will pass a law next year that cracks down on illegal immigrants, despite lawmakers' failure to reach a consensus on the issue this year.

"If somebody is in our country illegally, and they're violating our laws, we ought to be able to ask them if they're legal or not. That's what I'd like to have happen," Scott told The Associated Press.

Local law enforcement officers are already allowed to ask the status of immigrants they arrest, but they don't have to answer.

And the Obama administration recently made mandatory its Secure Communities program that requires local law enforcement officers check the fingerprints of those they arrest against Department of Homeland Security immigration databases. It was not immediately clear how Scott's proposal would differ from existing law.

Scott said he has not decided whether to push to make the federal government's E-verify system mandatory for all companies operating in Florida. That system allows employers to know whether a new employee is a citizen or an immigrant who is eligible to work. Critics say it is burdensome for employers and makes too many errors.

Opposition by state agriculture and hospitality industry leaders to a mandatory E-verify program was one of the major reasons attempts to pass an immigration law failed last session.

The Citizens Advisory Committe consists of nine members appointed by Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings to review policy regarding cases involving deadly force. There are five cases to be studied by the committee, which will make policy suggestions. The first of these cases involves shooting at or into moving vehicles.

The committee has no authority over the cases presented to them. These cases were reviewed by Internal Affairs and Florida Police Department prior to this committee studying them.

Jeannine attended the Aug. 25 meeting of the committee, which will meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month.